Couple Rescued From Desert Island After 'SOS' Spotted In Sand

The rescue followed a seven-day search by an international maritime team, who searched a total of 16,571 square miles for the pair.

A couple stranded on a remote Micronesian island in the Pacific were rescued Friday after a U.S. Navy aircraft spotted their “SOS” sign in the sand.

The U.S. Embassy in Kolonia identified the boaters as Linus and Sabina Jack, who are both in their 50s. The couple had departed from Weno Island on August 17, en route to Tamatam Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

They left with limited supplies and no emergency equipment, and were expected to arrive on Tamatam Island the following day, but never made it.

The rescue followed a seven-day search by an international maritime team, who searched a total of 16,571 square miles for the pair.

A helicopter was sent to fly over East Fayu after a search vessel, British Mariner, reported seeing lights on the uninhabited island. They had drawn 20-foot letters spelling out “SOS” in the sand and could be seen waving to the aircraft from the palm-fringed shore. A small shelter made out of palm fronds was also visible.

On Friday, the U.S. embassy said the search and rescue mission had been successfully completed. “They are found and are waiting for a ship to take them home,” the embassy wrote.